I would like to offer just one thought on the unity of the Body of Christ during this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: working toward the unity of the whole Body of Christ is not an option for us as Christians. In fact, I would argue it is central to our calling as the Church.
In this spirit, I would invite you to reflect on two texts:
1) The Gospel of John, chapter 17: Jesus' "high priestly prayer" for his disciples before his Passion and
2) The New Delhi Statement (1961) of the World Council of Churches, especially paragraph 2:
We believe that the unity which is both God’s will and his gift to his Church is being made visible as all in each place who are baptized into Jesus Christ and confess him as Lord and Saviour are brought by the Holy Spirit into one fully committed fellowship, holding the one apostolic faith preaching the one Gospel, breaking the one bread, joining in common prayer, and having a corporate life reaching out in witness and service to all and who at the same time are united with the whole Christian fellowship in all places and all ages in such wise that ministry and members are accepted by all, and that all can act and speak together as occasion requires for the tasks to which God calls his people.
It is for such unity that we believe we must pray and work.
With prayers for the unity of the whole Church...
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
Moderation in Growth | Joy in Work
I would like to tackle a couple of topics this morning: moderation in all things--including our spiritual growth--and working daily with excellence and joy.
1. Moderation
I have written several times in the last few weeks on New Year's Resolutions. I think they are, by and large, a good thing. However, they often become quite ambitious: "lose 30 pounds, eat healthy every day and exercise 45 minutes a day." The problem, of course, with overly-ambitious resolutions is that quickly we give up on them. Or, sometimes we go strong for a few weeks, delighting in the new life upon which we have embarked, and then crash and burn when sometime interrupts the flow.
This is one reason, I think, why we often fail at dieting. Rather than see a diet as a lifestyle, we adopt a strict asceticism in our eating and then, when we fall and eat the whole pint of ice cream, throw up our arms and say, "Well, I guess I failed at that, so I might as well give up altogether." Then the floodgates open.
It is no secret among those in the fitness field that the gyms are packed in January and that by February the numbers are back to normal, except for the number of annual memberships sold! The "regulars" at the gym, so I am told, sometimes even stay away during January because it is too hard to get a treadmill.
This all concerns me because I see this attitude also being adopted when we consider spiritual growth. Disappointed at the state of our soul, we embark, New-Year's-Resolution-style, on an ambitious project of spiritual renewal: an intense prayer, Scripture reading, fasting or works of mercy regimen. My guess is that many of us crash and burn by late January in this area too.
So what then shall we do? Give up altogether when we have fallen and eaten the whole pint of ice cream? Not at all. I think our ambitious projects, even in faith, and our subsequent failures invite us to a different way. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus invites us to take up our cross daily and follow him (Luke 9:23). In other words, just as moderation in eating and exercise is beneficial for our bodies, so too moderation in the spiritual disciplines is also beneficial for us. In other words: baby steps.
Both world-class athletes and professional musicians will tell you the key to their success is daily practice. First you master the basics, even if they are tedious, before stepping up to the next level. So I invite you to consider your life in terms of prayer, Scripture reading and works of mercy. Where would you like to be at the end of January... 2010? And then ask: How can small steps, a daily routine, be taken so that we might take up our cross daily and follow our Lord Christ?
2. Excellence and Joy in Daily Work
Speaking of the daily grind, I always see a lot of grimaces come January. Perhaps it is because of the winter perma-cloud that descends on NW Ohio this time of year. Perhaps it is the winter blahs. I wonder if this not a time to recover delight in our daily grind, in our everyday work, in our "toil."
Now what I am speaking of is not simply a "grin and bear it" attitude (which in my mind is just a grimace with a thin veneer of a smile). Nor am I encouraging an artificial "positive attitude" wherein we do helpful self-talk. Remember the Stuart Smalley character from Saturday Night Live? "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me." No, instead God desires for us something much deeper.
God has given us the gift of work (even when it is "toil" as in the book of Ecclesiastes) and God expects diligence and excellence in the tasks which God sets before us. If you are a builder, work to be the best builder you can be, by God's grace. If you scrub floors, scrub those floors to God's glory. If you are charged with the care of children (in my humble opinion, one of the highest callings, and here I am including teachers), care for them with God's own tender mercy and love, and in doing so you will raise up children for the Kingdom. Whatever "state" (vocation) you find yourself in, do it to God's glory.
When we recover this excellence in our daily work, then true joy is found. This is not ephemeral, wistful happiness, but a deep joy that rests in the conviction that God has given us the gift of work and has provided an inherent satisfaction in doing that work well.
Peace be with you this week.
Calendar
You may want to check out our calendar for upcoming events. The newsletter also has more detailed information on many of these activities. Finally, remember that the e100 Bible reading challenge begins in just a few weeks... spread the word!
Next Sunday: January 18
You are invited to join us for a youth luncheon this Sunday (1/18/09) after 10:30 am worship and a Creative Arts and Puppet Ministry workshop beginning at 12:30 pm. All are also invited to a public performance at 6pm as part of this workshop.
1. Moderation
I have written several times in the last few weeks on New Year's Resolutions. I think they are, by and large, a good thing. However, they often become quite ambitious: "lose 30 pounds, eat healthy every day and exercise 45 minutes a day." The problem, of course, with overly-ambitious resolutions is that quickly we give up on them. Or, sometimes we go strong for a few weeks, delighting in the new life upon which we have embarked, and then crash and burn when sometime interrupts the flow.
This is one reason, I think, why we often fail at dieting. Rather than see a diet as a lifestyle, we adopt a strict asceticism in our eating and then, when we fall and eat the whole pint of ice cream, throw up our arms and say, "Well, I guess I failed at that, so I might as well give up altogether." Then the floodgates open.
It is no secret among those in the fitness field that the gyms are packed in January and that by February the numbers are back to normal, except for the number of annual memberships sold! The "regulars" at the gym, so I am told, sometimes even stay away during January because it is too hard to get a treadmill.
This all concerns me because I see this attitude also being adopted when we consider spiritual growth. Disappointed at the state of our soul, we embark, New-Year's-Resolution-style, on an ambitious project of spiritual renewal: an intense prayer, Scripture reading, fasting or works of mercy regimen. My guess is that many of us crash and burn by late January in this area too.
So what then shall we do? Give up altogether when we have fallen and eaten the whole pint of ice cream? Not at all. I think our ambitious projects, even in faith, and our subsequent failures invite us to a different way. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus invites us to take up our cross daily and follow him (Luke 9:23). In other words, just as moderation in eating and exercise is beneficial for our bodies, so too moderation in the spiritual disciplines is also beneficial for us. In other words: baby steps.
Both world-class athletes and professional musicians will tell you the key to their success is daily practice. First you master the basics, even if they are tedious, before stepping up to the next level. So I invite you to consider your life in terms of prayer, Scripture reading and works of mercy. Where would you like to be at the end of January... 2010? And then ask: How can small steps, a daily routine, be taken so that we might take up our cross daily and follow our Lord Christ?
2. Excellence and Joy in Daily Work
Speaking of the daily grind, I always see a lot of grimaces come January. Perhaps it is because of the winter perma-cloud that descends on NW Ohio this time of year. Perhaps it is the winter blahs. I wonder if this not a time to recover delight in our daily grind, in our everyday work, in our "toil."
Now what I am speaking of is not simply a "grin and bear it" attitude (which in my mind is just a grimace with a thin veneer of a smile). Nor am I encouraging an artificial "positive attitude" wherein we do helpful self-talk. Remember the Stuart Smalley character from Saturday Night Live? "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me." No, instead God desires for us something much deeper.
God has given us the gift of work (even when it is "toil" as in the book of Ecclesiastes) and God expects diligence and excellence in the tasks which God sets before us. If you are a builder, work to be the best builder you can be, by God's grace. If you scrub floors, scrub those floors to God's glory. If you are charged with the care of children (in my humble opinion, one of the highest callings, and here I am including teachers), care for them with God's own tender mercy and love, and in doing so you will raise up children for the Kingdom. Whatever "state" (vocation) you find yourself in, do it to God's glory.
When we recover this excellence in our daily work, then true joy is found. This is not ephemeral, wistful happiness, but a deep joy that rests in the conviction that God has given us the gift of work and has provided an inherent satisfaction in doing that work well.
Peace be with you this week.
Calendar
You may want to check out our calendar for upcoming events. The newsletter also has more detailed information on many of these activities. Finally, remember that the e100 Bible reading challenge begins in just a few weeks... spread the word!
Next Sunday: January 18
You are invited to join us for a youth luncheon this Sunday (1/18/09) after 10:30 am worship and a Creative Arts and Puppet Ministry workshop beginning at 12:30 pm. All are also invited to a public performance at 6pm as part of this workshop.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
New Year's Resolutions
The danger of posting your New Year's Resolutions semi-publicly is that a lot more people will hold you to them (or at least give you a hard time about not keeping them). I suppose the upside to doing so is that there is another level of accountability. In any case, for 2009 mine are (in no particular order):
1.) Practice the virtue of being present in all situations.
2.) Read through the New Testament each month.
3.) Strive for 7 hours of sleep each night (10:30 pm - 5:30 am).
It seems to me that New Year's Resolutions and growth in faith have a lot in common. It's easy to be too ambitious and quite early. The best course seems to be slow and steady growth over the long haul.
1.) Practice the virtue of being present in all situations.
2.) Read through the New Testament each month.
3.) Strive for 7 hours of sleep each night (10:30 pm - 5:30 am).
It seems to me that New Year's Resolutions and growth in faith have a lot in common. It's easy to be too ambitious and quite early. The best course seems to be slow and steady growth over the long haul.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Bible Reading Opportunities
A Blessed Epiphany to you all! May the Light of Christ shine brightly in your lives and in this world.
As we begin a new calendar year, I invite you to consider how you are engaged with Holy Scripture on a regular basis. Our denomination, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, is encouraging us all to be familiar with the Bible, our "first language of faith." You can read all about this new initiative, called Book of Faith.
In addition, our congregation and community will be participating the E100 Bible Challenge program, a 20-week walk through 100 "E"ssential passages in the Bible (50 Old Testament, 50 New Testament). It begins the week of February 8. You can read all about it at our local e100 site.
Before the program begins, we will also explore how the Bible came to be in a three-week Sunday school class (Rediscovering the Book of Faith) that begins on January 25.
And on the Sunday (February 8) of the kick-off week, you are invited to a Bible Fair (a chance to look at different Bible versions) and a luncheon at noon.
Peace be with you!
As we begin a new calendar year, I invite you to consider how you are engaged with Holy Scripture on a regular basis. Our denomination, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, is encouraging us all to be familiar with the Bible, our "first language of faith." You can read all about this new initiative, called Book of Faith.
In addition, our congregation and community will be participating the E100 Bible Challenge program, a 20-week walk through 100 "E"ssential passages in the Bible (50 Old Testament, 50 New Testament). It begins the week of February 8. You can read all about it at our local e100 site.
Before the program begins, we will also explore how the Bible came to be in a three-week Sunday school class (Rediscovering the Book of Faith) that begins on January 25.
And on the Sunday (February 8) of the kick-off week, you are invited to a Bible Fair (a chance to look at different Bible versions) and a luncheon at noon.
Peace be with you!
Monday, December 29, 2008
Praying Daily with Mary, Zechariah and Simeon
Daily Prayer
It is the time of year when many of us are writing New Year's resolutions. I would invite you to consider your prayer life as you craft your own.
Regular daily prayer with the Scriptures has been part of the tradition of the church since its beginning. It is practice that we inherited from our Jewish ancestors, who marked not only the Festivals (Passover, Weeks, Booths, etc.) and the months, but also the evening (the beginning of the day, cf. Genesis 1: "...and it was evening and it was morning") and the morning with times of prayer.
Christian monasteries and many churches also mark the day with fixed-hour prayer. That is, certain times of the day are set aside to pause and to pray: usually with prayers from the Psalms and other Scriptures. How often? Some as often as every three hours: 6 am (or sunrise), 9 am (the third hour), 12 noon (the sixth hour, the time of the crucifixion), 3 pm (the ninth hour), 6 pm (evening, sunset), 9 pm (late evening) and midnight. Some even rise in the middle of the night to give thanks and praise to God. Work and pray. Work and pray. Work and pray. This is the rhythm of the monastery--and it may be ours too!
If this all seems quite ambitious to you, that is ok. Begin where you are and work on growing to a more frequent marking of the days with prayer. If you pray less often than weekly, why not commit to praying weekly? If you pray weekly, why not commit to praying daily this new year? And if you pray daily, why not consider gradually growing to marking more than one time of day for fixed prayer? If you are a morning pray-er, add noon or evening. The idea is that the Words of God would be "on our lips and in our heart" (Romans 10:8).
And since we have just heard Mary's Song (on December 21) and Simeon's Song (December 28) during Sunday worship, why not begin with some fixed prayers from Scripture?
Traditionally the Benedictus (Zechariah’s Song) in Luke 1:68-79 is prayed in the morning, after rising. It celebrates God's victories for his people and the Savior Jesus Christ.
The Magnificat (Mary’s Song) in Luke 1:46-55 is prayed in the evening (near sunset, often around dinner time) and it celebrates God's provision for the poor and lowly. Mary voices her praise to God for us all. Note the connections between Mary's song and Exodus 15 in the Old Testament.
Finally, the Nunc Dimittis (Simeon’s Song) in Luke 2:29-32 is a "bedtime" prayer and forces us to consider the links between our regular evening sleep and the "sleep" of death. Both involve an incredible amount of trust as we enfold ourselves into the hands of our Creator.
Services for Morning Prayer (Matins), Evening Prayer (Vespers) and Compline (Night Prayer) may be found in our new Evangelical Lutheran Worship hymnal, pp. 295-327 and in the green Lutheran Book of Worship, pp. 131-160. Don't be intimidated by all the music. Simply read the sung parts if you do not know the music. If you do not have a hymnal in your home, I would invite you to consider purchasing one of these (another New Year's resolution?). There is even a resource with abbreviated versions of morning and evening prayer with hymn suggestions called Bread for the Day.
Let's not forget the Psalms. Ideally these should be a part of Daily Prayer. The Psalms are a rich treasure trove of song and verse that Israel (and then the Church) have been praying for thousands of years. A table for praying the whole book of Psalms each month is available here. The first Psalms listed each day for the morning and the second for the evening.
If you would like to read more about fixed daily prayer, I would also recommend a resource by Phyllis Tickle called The Divine Hours, who has written on the subject of fixed-hour prayer. Another online resource (with book suggestions) is available here.
Mark Your Calendar
Mark your calendars for these upcoming events. For more information check the newsletter later this week. It should be posted online by then.
+January 3: 1st Saturday evening worship service (5 pm) and blood drive (daytime)
+January 4: Installation of council members during worship
+January 11: "Companion Synod Sunday": We celebrate our partnership with churches in Tanzania and Serbia
+Late January / early February: e100 (Essential 100) Bible reading program kick off
Merry Christmas (Day 5) and Happy New Year!
It is the time of year when many of us are writing New Year's resolutions. I would invite you to consider your prayer life as you craft your own.
Regular daily prayer with the Scriptures has been part of the tradition of the church since its beginning. It is practice that we inherited from our Jewish ancestors, who marked not only the Festivals (Passover, Weeks, Booths, etc.) and the months, but also the evening (the beginning of the day, cf. Genesis 1: "...and it was evening and it was morning") and the morning with times of prayer.
Christian monasteries and many churches also mark the day with fixed-hour prayer. That is, certain times of the day are set aside to pause and to pray: usually with prayers from the Psalms and other Scriptures. How often? Some as often as every three hours: 6 am (or sunrise), 9 am (the third hour), 12 noon (the sixth hour, the time of the crucifixion), 3 pm (the ninth hour), 6 pm (evening, sunset), 9 pm (late evening) and midnight. Some even rise in the middle of the night to give thanks and praise to God. Work and pray. Work and pray. Work and pray. This is the rhythm of the monastery--and it may be ours too!
If this all seems quite ambitious to you, that is ok. Begin where you are and work on growing to a more frequent marking of the days with prayer. If you pray less often than weekly, why not commit to praying weekly? If you pray weekly, why not commit to praying daily this new year? And if you pray daily, why not consider gradually growing to marking more than one time of day for fixed prayer? If you are a morning pray-er, add noon or evening. The idea is that the Words of God would be "on our lips and in our heart" (Romans 10:8).
And since we have just heard Mary's Song (on December 21) and Simeon's Song (December 28) during Sunday worship, why not begin with some fixed prayers from Scripture?
Traditionally the Benedictus (Zechariah’s Song) in Luke 1:68-79 is prayed in the morning, after rising. It celebrates God's victories for his people and the Savior Jesus Christ.
The Magnificat (Mary’s Song) in Luke 1:46-55 is prayed in the evening (near sunset, often around dinner time) and it celebrates God's provision for the poor and lowly. Mary voices her praise to God for us all. Note the connections between Mary's song and Exodus 15 in the Old Testament.
Finally, the Nunc Dimittis (Simeon’s Song) in Luke 2:29-32 is a "bedtime" prayer and forces us to consider the links between our regular evening sleep and the "sleep" of death. Both involve an incredible amount of trust as we enfold ourselves into the hands of our Creator.
Services for Morning Prayer (Matins), Evening Prayer (Vespers) and Compline (Night Prayer) may be found in our new Evangelical Lutheran Worship hymnal, pp. 295-327 and in the green Lutheran Book of Worship, pp. 131-160. Don't be intimidated by all the music. Simply read the sung parts if you do not know the music. If you do not have a hymnal in your home, I would invite you to consider purchasing one of these (another New Year's resolution?). There is even a resource with abbreviated versions of morning and evening prayer with hymn suggestions called Bread for the Day.
Let's not forget the Psalms. Ideally these should be a part of Daily Prayer. The Psalms are a rich treasure trove of song and verse that Israel (and then the Church) have been praying for thousands of years. A table for praying the whole book of Psalms each month is available here. The first Psalms listed each day for the morning and the second for the evening.
If you would like to read more about fixed daily prayer, I would also recommend a resource by Phyllis Tickle called The Divine Hours, who has written on the subject of fixed-hour prayer. Another online resource (with book suggestions) is available here.
Mark Your Calendar
Mark your calendars for these upcoming events. For more information check the newsletter later this week. It should be posted online by then.
+January 3: 1st Saturday evening worship service (5 pm) and blood drive (daytime)
+January 4: Installation of council members during worship
+January 11: "Companion Synod Sunday": We celebrate our partnership with churches in Tanzania and Serbia
+Late January / early February: e100 (Essential 100) Bible reading program kick off
Merry Christmas (Day 5) and Happy New Year!
Monday, December 22, 2008
TXT ME!
One thing at the top of my New Year's Resolution list for 2009 will be this: "Practice the virtue of being present at all times." Of course, as I write this, I have my phone within reach, my iPod charging at home, my calendar open on my desk, various books scattered about with pages marked from the last time I stopped reading, two bulletins that I am proofing, my hymnal, a half-dozen notecards and more than three pens and pencils scattered about. This "being present" thing is not something that comes naturally to me. We are a distracted people.
When I drive through Bowling Green and bemoan how many college students are texting as they walk to class, I am also aware at how many people my age and older break into a nervous sweat if they cannot find their Blackberry or cell phone... and how man portable electronic devices I own myself. We are a very distracted people.
Let me be clear. I'm not fussing about technology. Rather, I am worried about how all this "need to be somewhere else" stuff is forming us, about what kind of people we are becoming. What all this is doing to us is giving us the false promise that "somewhere or someone else" is always better or more exciting than where (or with whom) I am now. You know the feeling: You're out to dinner or lunch and your companion takes a cell phone call and talks on and on. Inside you're yelling, "But I'm right here, sitting in front of you!" This fall I saw a child, who looked to be about 9 years old, go up and sit next to his father on the park bench. His dad was on a call with his bluetooth headset and never even acknowledged his presence. After about 10 minutes (plenty of time, I thought), the boy just got up and went back to play.
It also hits close to home. It is troubling to me when I am at home playing with my children and realize that while I'm there in body, my mind and heart are elsewhere: usually thinking about work.
It's almost Christmas time, and so it's probably a good thing to contemplate Mary's response to the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: Luke 2:19: But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. Sure, the Shepherds are running here and there, telling the news, but Mary, like all good mothers, holds that tiny newborn in her arms and gazes into his eyes. For there is no better place to be in the world than right here, right now, for that is where God is.
When I drive through Bowling Green and bemoan how many college students are texting as they walk to class, I am also aware at how many people my age and older break into a nervous sweat if they cannot find their Blackberry or cell phone... and how man portable electronic devices I own myself. We are a very distracted people.
Let me be clear. I'm not fussing about technology. Rather, I am worried about how all this "need to be somewhere else" stuff is forming us, about what kind of people we are becoming. What all this is doing to us is giving us the false promise that "somewhere or someone else" is always better or more exciting than where (or with whom) I am now. You know the feeling: You're out to dinner or lunch and your companion takes a cell phone call and talks on and on. Inside you're yelling, "But I'm right here, sitting in front of you!" This fall I saw a child, who looked to be about 9 years old, go up and sit next to his father on the park bench. His dad was on a call with his bluetooth headset and never even acknowledged his presence. After about 10 minutes (plenty of time, I thought), the boy just got up and went back to play.
It also hits close to home. It is troubling to me when I am at home playing with my children and realize that while I'm there in body, my mind and heart are elsewhere: usually thinking about work.
It's almost Christmas time, and so it's probably a good thing to contemplate Mary's response to the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: Luke 2:19: But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. Sure, the Shepherds are running here and there, telling the news, but Mary, like all good mothers, holds that tiny newborn in her arms and gazes into his eyes. For there is no better place to be in the world than right here, right now, for that is where God is.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Through the Bible in 90 Days? Whew!
Exhausted Yet?
I don't know about you all, but the craziness of the pre-Christmas season has swept over our family. I think we have evening commitments from now until December 21... then again beginning on Christmas Eve. Our gift list is about half done and I have only made a small dent in the Christmas letter.
And yet there is a lot about this craziness that I must confess that I love. The sheer number of Christmas lights on houses reminds me of Christ the Light who has entered our dark world: Jesus Christ is the Light of the world... the Light no darkness can overcome.
The cookies and candy canes and endless string of parties remind me of the joyous celebration of Christ's victory over sin and death: the bitter sting of death is swallowed up in Christ's sweet victory.
And the crazy family Christmas gatherings? These remind me of the wide variety of people that God calls into his Church, into his family of faith.
Bible in 90 Days --> E100
As I write this, many members of our community are completing their reading of the Bible in 90 Days. If you know of someone who participated in this program, you may want to congratulate them and ask them how the experience was.
If you are interested in journeying through the Scriptures, you may want to consider a program beginning in late January and early February called E100: a walk through the Bible's "essential 100" passages. This program can be done on your own, in small groups, or in a larger group setting.
Lutheran Study Bible
The Lutheran Study Bible will be available on March 1, 2009. If you reserve a copy before December 31, 2008 they are available at a 30% discount (hardcover or paperback). Contact Kathy in the church office (419-287-4182) if you would like to be added to the list. We need 10 total (before December 31) to get the discount. If you would like to look more closely at this new Bible, see the sample pages.
Hebrews Devotions
We continue our journey through the book of Hebrews. Devotions are available here.
I don't know about you all, but the craziness of the pre-Christmas season has swept over our family. I think we have evening commitments from now until December 21... then again beginning on Christmas Eve. Our gift list is about half done and I have only made a small dent in the Christmas letter.
And yet there is a lot about this craziness that I must confess that I love. The sheer number of Christmas lights on houses reminds me of Christ the Light who has entered our dark world: Jesus Christ is the Light of the world... the Light no darkness can overcome.
The cookies and candy canes and endless string of parties remind me of the joyous celebration of Christ's victory over sin and death: the bitter sting of death is swallowed up in Christ's sweet victory.
And the crazy family Christmas gatherings? These remind me of the wide variety of people that God calls into his Church, into his family of faith.
Bible in 90 Days --> E100
As I write this, many members of our community are completing their reading of the Bible in 90 Days. If you know of someone who participated in this program, you may want to congratulate them and ask them how the experience was.
If you are interested in journeying through the Scriptures, you may want to consider a program beginning in late January and early February called E100: a walk through the Bible's "essential 100" passages. This program can be done on your own, in small groups, or in a larger group setting.
Lutheran Study Bible
The Lutheran Study Bible will be available on March 1, 2009. If you reserve a copy before December 31, 2008 they are available at a 30% discount (hardcover or paperback). Contact Kathy in the church office (419-287-4182) if you would like to be added to the list. We need 10 total (before December 31) to get the discount. If you would like to look more closely at this new Bible, see the sample pages.
Hebrews Devotions
We continue our journey through the book of Hebrews. Devotions are available here.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Hebrews Advent
Since we are making our way through the Book of Hebrews for Advent, I have decided to reproduce my reflections for these weekly devotions. I hope they bear some fruit. If you would like to read more, they (and others) are also available at my blog: Hebrews.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Bible Reading - The "E"ssential 100
The American Bible Society has launched a new initiative called e100. It is a journey through 100 "essential" passages of the Bible, with an eye toward giving the reader a good sense of the grand sweep of the Scriptures.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Sickness and Sin
Sick in Sin
'Tis the season for the head-cold... fa la la la la, la la la la (or the stomach flu).
This is the time of year when it seems like virtually everyone is either sick, about to get sick, or recovering from being sick. This permafrost of stuffy noses, plugged sinuses and gurgling tummies has made me think a lot about sin.
In the West (most Christians we know), we often talk about sin in legal terms. A simplified version goes like this: We are guilty and stand before the Judgment seat of God the Father Almighty. Jesus Christ, God the Son, steps into our place and not only takes our punishment but shares his righteousness with us.
With all due process--er, respect--to the attorneys out there, I think we have been far too enthralled by this model for understanding Christ's work of redemption for us. But before I begin to take it apart, let me tell you what I do like about this model: It it squarely focused on Christ and his redemptive work on our behalf. Christ is the one who saves. Christ deals fully with the sin of the world (past, present and future) on the Cross. We have no chance apart from him. There is no question who stands "in our place."
What I think this model fails to answer is how Christ's work is "for us," that is, how Christ's redemptive and saving works becomes real in our lives here and now. I mean, if it is just that we are "pronounced" free/innocent, the question that remains for me is something like: "OK, but what do I do when I get out of jail?"
In the Eastern part of the Church, legal language for sin is replaced largely by the language of sin and sickness. We are literally sick with sin. It infects every facet of our lives. And more than simply being declared righteousness, we need healing, we need to be cured. I find this understanding of sin as sickness incredibly important in reflecting on what exactly sin does to us, what it is that Jesus saves us from, and what being "saved" really means.
First, a caveat: There is no "neat" relationship between sickness and sin. I write this against those who would make a necessary link always between one who is sick and their sin. Being sick does not prove a specific act of sin. Rather, I think, it speaks to the whole human condition under sin: that it is literally poisoning the whole of who we are: body, soul, mind and spirit.
If we are sick with sin, then what we need is not an announcement, but healing, a cure. Sin is literally eating away at us, making us lethargic and draining the lifeblood from us. Sin is slowly killing us. Enter Jesus, who seems to be healing all the time. As I read through the gospels I am struck by how often Jesus' ministry is a ministry of healing: the blind see; the deaf hear; the lame and crippled walk; the dumb speak! And all of this is not separate from Jesus' work of redemption but an intrinsic part of it. The word used in the New Testament for "healing" also means "salvation" (sozo).
In this understanding, Jesus takes all of our sickness (sin) upon himself on the cross, even sickness (sin) to the point of death and then literally swallows it all up into himself, bearing our sin. Then comes the empty tomb. Then comes the Resurrected Christ in the Body, restoring our sick human flesh to wholeness, to newness, to new life.
Therefore our ministry on this side of the Second Coming is like hospital work: one sick person caring for another with the healing gifts that come only through Jesus, the Great Physician.
Lord Jesus, we are literally sick with sin. We're dying here. Save us from our sin; heal us and make us whole. Amen.
Advent
Advent is now underway. I too get caught up in the busy-ness of the pre-Christmas season. I think that is why I look forward to the Season of Advent. For this is serious business, preparing ourselves for our Lord's return. If you would like to read more about it as we journey through Hebrews, see this blog.
Upcoming Events
Today is World AIDS day. I encourage you today to take time to pray for all who afflicted by this disease, as well as their families and friends
If you have the chance, I highly recommend checking out all or part of the Lutheran Revival that is happening Friday evening and all day Saturday in Bowling Green.
'Tis the season for the head-cold... fa la la la la, la la la la (or the stomach flu).
This is the time of year when it seems like virtually everyone is either sick, about to get sick, or recovering from being sick. This permafrost of stuffy noses, plugged sinuses and gurgling tummies has made me think a lot about sin.
In the West (most Christians we know), we often talk about sin in legal terms. A simplified version goes like this: We are guilty and stand before the Judgment seat of God the Father Almighty. Jesus Christ, God the Son, steps into our place and not only takes our punishment but shares his righteousness with us.
With all due process--er, respect--to the attorneys out there, I think we have been far too enthralled by this model for understanding Christ's work of redemption for us. But before I begin to take it apart, let me tell you what I do like about this model: It it squarely focused on Christ and his redemptive work on our behalf. Christ is the one who saves. Christ deals fully with the sin of the world (past, present and future) on the Cross. We have no chance apart from him. There is no question who stands "in our place."
What I think this model fails to answer is how Christ's work is "for us," that is, how Christ's redemptive and saving works becomes real in our lives here and now. I mean, if it is just that we are "pronounced" free/innocent, the question that remains for me is something like: "OK, but what do I do when I get out of jail?"
In the Eastern part of the Church, legal language for sin is replaced largely by the language of sin and sickness. We are literally sick with sin. It infects every facet of our lives. And more than simply being declared righteousness, we need healing, we need to be cured. I find this understanding of sin as sickness incredibly important in reflecting on what exactly sin does to us, what it is that Jesus saves us from, and what being "saved" really means.
First, a caveat: There is no "neat" relationship between sickness and sin. I write this against those who would make a necessary link always between one who is sick and their sin. Being sick does not prove a specific act of sin. Rather, I think, it speaks to the whole human condition under sin: that it is literally poisoning the whole of who we are: body, soul, mind and spirit.
If we are sick with sin, then what we need is not an announcement, but healing, a cure. Sin is literally eating away at us, making us lethargic and draining the lifeblood from us. Sin is slowly killing us. Enter Jesus, who seems to be healing all the time. As I read through the gospels I am struck by how often Jesus' ministry is a ministry of healing: the blind see; the deaf hear; the lame and crippled walk; the dumb speak! And all of this is not separate from Jesus' work of redemption but an intrinsic part of it. The word used in the New Testament for "healing" also means "salvation" (sozo).
In this understanding, Jesus takes all of our sickness (sin) upon himself on the cross, even sickness (sin) to the point of death and then literally swallows it all up into himself, bearing our sin. Then comes the empty tomb. Then comes the Resurrected Christ in the Body, restoring our sick human flesh to wholeness, to newness, to new life.
Therefore our ministry on this side of the Second Coming is like hospital work: one sick person caring for another with the healing gifts that come only through Jesus, the Great Physician.
Lord Jesus, we are literally sick with sin. We're dying here. Save us from our sin; heal us and make us whole. Amen.
Advent
Advent is now underway. I too get caught up in the busy-ness of the pre-Christmas season. I think that is why I look forward to the Season of Advent. For this is serious business, preparing ourselves for our Lord's return. If you would like to read more about it as we journey through Hebrews, see this blog.
Upcoming Events
Today is World AIDS day. I encourage you today to take time to pray for all who afflicted by this disease, as well as their families and friends
If you have the chance, I highly recommend checking out all or part of the Lutheran Revival that is happening Friday evening and all day Saturday in Bowling Green.
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